Mansfield man facing lengthy prison term for striking man in head with axe
A 40-year-old Mansfield man is likely facing a 15-year prison term after striking another man in the head with an ax, causing serious injuries.
His victim will probably struggle even longer.
Andrew Chambers pleaded guilty Wednesday in Richland County Common Pleas Court to two counts of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault and tampering with evidence for a July 11 incident at the Electric Company, a nightclub on West Fourth Street.
The victim told Judge Brent Robinson he has undergone three brain surgeries and has a shunt in his head. He also suffered a stroke.
"It may not look like I've been through a lot, but I've been through it all," the 31-year-old man told the court.
He said when he tries to put on socks, he feels "crazy pressure in my head."
The man said he has not worked since the incident, which started when he came to the aid of a man who has been knocked out by Chambers.
"He got into it with me and lost his mind," the victim said. "He went and got an ax from his car. That's not a bar fight.
"This guy was going to the next level, got an ax and stuck it in my head. That's not normal behavior."
Defendant is veteran of U.S. Army
Chambers told the judge he was deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Army and was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury.
His victim discounted the mitigating factors.
"There's millions of people who served who don't go around sticking an ax in someone's head," he said.
He said he has a CDL license but is considered a liability now. The victim said he also can no longer perform construction work.
"I almost lost my house," he said. "It's ruined my life. This has affected me in such a big way."
He said he has four children ages 12 and under and is going through a divorce.
Robinson asked him where his surgery had been performed. The victim said he remained at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital because he likely would not have survived long enough to be flown to another facility.
He said doctors have told him it's a miracle he's alive.
Victim's mother addresses judge
The victim's mother also addressed the court.
"Can you imagine being 31 years old, trapped in your body?" she asked.
She said she and her husband were working in Pennsylvania when they got word of their son's injuries. He is their first-born.
"It would have killed us to bury him," the mother said, adding she did have a soft spot for Chambers' military service.
Chambers will get an opportunity to speak at his sentencing, scheduled for Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.
Robinson said the state and Assistant Prosecutor Nik Buckmeier want a sentence of around 20 years, while the victim wants the maximum, which would be 21 years. Chambers could spend an extra 5½ years in prison depending on his behavior.
Defense attorney Jerry Thompson is asking for about 10 years behind bars for his client.
Robinson told those in court he was leaning toward a sentence in the middle, adding he has seen video of the incident and it is "terrible."
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
X (formerly Twitter): @MarkCau32059251
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield OH man pleads guilty to attempted murder in ax incident
